Impaired Prefrontal Hemodynamic Maturation in Autism and Unaffected Siblings

BACKGROUND: Dysfunctions of the prefrontal cortex have been previously reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Previous studies reported that first-degree relatives of individuals with ASD show atypical brain activity during tasks associated with social function. However, developmental changes in prefrontal dysfunction in ASD and genetic influences on the phenomena remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the change in hemoglobin concentration in the prefrontal cortex as measured with near-infrared spectroscopy, in children and adults with ASD during the letter fluency test. Moreover, to clarify the genetic influences on developmental changes in the prefrontal dysfunction in ASD, unaffected siblings of the ASD participants were also assessed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Study participants included 27 individuals with high-functioning ASD, age- and IQ-matched 24 healthy non-affected siblings, and 27 unrelated healthy controls aged 5 to 39 years. The relative concentration of hemoglobin ([Hb]) in the prefrontal cortex was measured during the letter fluency task. For children, neither the [oxy-Hb] change during the task nor task performances differed significantly among three groups. For adults, the [oxy-Hb] increases during the task were significantly smaller in the bilateral prefrontal cortex in ASD than those in control subjects, although task performances were similar. In the adult siblings the [oxy-Hb] change was intermediate between those in controls and ASDs. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Although indirectly due to a cross-sectional design, the results of this study indicate altered age-related change of prefrontal activity during executive processing in ASD. This is a first near-infrared spectroscopy study that implies alteration in the age-related changes of prefrontal activity in ASD and genetic influences on the phenomena

Interferon-based Simeprevir Therapy for Pediatric Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Viral Infection

Interferon-based simeprevir therapy showed high efficacy and tolerability in children with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection. While direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy are undergoing study in children, this regimen is considered an available therapeutic option for selected patients in countries where DAAs have not yet been approved

Efficacy of a Tibia Counter Rotator System for the Treatment of Internal Tibial Torsion in Children

Internal tibial torsion is more common in the Asian population than in Western populations. Generally, surgery should be considered for the treatment of severe internal tibial torsion. As an alternative approach, the usefulness of a tibia counter rotator (TCR), a corrective orthosis based on the theory of the tibia torsional transformer, has been demonstrated, but the evidence is limited. In the present study, the efficacy and safety of TCR treatment were investigated in pediatric patients with internal tibial torsion. The subjects were 124 pediatric patients with internal tibial torsion who were between 3 and 15 years of age and had no underlying diseases. The severity of tibial intorsion was evaluated by the tibial transmalleolar angle (TMA). A TMA less than 5° was defined as internal tibial torsion, and less than −20° was defined as severe in this study. The median duration of TCR use was 11 (9, 12) (median (IQR: interquartile range)) months, and the treatment completion rate was 94.4% (117/124). The TMA at 12 months from the start of treatment in patients who completed treatment was 5° (0°, 10°) on the right (n = 66) (p < 0.01 vs. pretreatment) and 0° (−5°, 8°) on the left (n = 71) (p < 0.01 vs. pretreatment). The tibial torsional transformer used in this study is effective in the initial treatment of mild to severe internal tibial torsion, with no adverse effects. Although internal tibial torsion is generally expected to resolve spontaneously, TCR treatment may be an effective alternative to surgical therapy in the Asian pediatric population

ASK1 is required for sustained activations of JNK/p38 MAP kinases and apoptosis

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK) 1 is activated in response to various cytotoxic stresses including TNF, Fas and reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H(2)O(2), and activates c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38. However, the roles of JNK and p38 signaling pathways during apoptosis have been controversial. Here we show that by deleting ASK1 in mice, TNF- and H(2)O(2)-induced sustained activations of JNK and p38 are lost in ASK1(–/–) embryonic fibroblasts, and that ASK1(–/–) cells are resistant to TNF- and H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis. TNF- but not Fas-induced apoptosis requires ROS-dependent activation of ASK1–JNK/p38 pathways. Thus, ASK1 is selectively required for TNF- and oxidative stress-induced sustained activations of JNK/p38 and apoptosis

Current Vitamin D Status in Healthy Japanese Infants and Young Children

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The individual's data in ASD group.

<p>CARS, Childhood Autism Rating Scale; EIQ, estimated IQ; VIQ, verbal IQ; PIQ, performance IQ; FIQ, Full-scale IQ; LFT, the number of words generated during the letter fluency task; L, left; R, right; f, female; m, male; Au, autistic disorder; As, asperger disorder; PDD-NOS, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.</p>*<p>The dosages for Case 3 and 7 were unavailable.</p

Grand average waveforms of hemoglobin concentration changes during the letter fluency task.

<p>Top: Autism spectrum disorder, Middle: Unaffected siblings, bottom: healthy control, right: adult group, left: child group. Line: red, oxyhemoglobin; blue, deoxyhemoglobin. The period of the activation task is between two dot-lines.</p